bippus_2003

Study Overview

• Focuses on humor used in conflict situations.

• Evaluates how humor impacts self-reported outcomes in conflicts.

• Uses Attribution Theory to analyze respondent perceptions.

Key Findings

• Attributions regarding humor use by speakers correlate with outcomes: Escalation, Progress, and Loss of Face.

• Internal attributions (e.g., self-serving reasons) relate to negative outcomes.

• External attributions (e.g., positive intent) relate to positive outcomes.

Purpose of the Study

• To understand the effects of humorous comments in conflict interactions.

• Aims to identify factors influencing positive conflict outcomes when humor is used.

Importance of Humor in Conflict

• Humor may serve as a communication tool to convey social norms.

• Can alleviate tension but may also be seen negatively in conflicts.

Positive Functions of Humor

• Reduces aggression (Baron, 1993).

• Provides comic relief in stressful situations.

Negative Functions of Humor

• Risks being perceived as a personal attack.

• May imply that the topic is not serious.

Attribution Theory in Context

• Attributions influence how respondents perceive humor usage:

  • Anxiety Relief

  • Mood Improvement

  • Establishing Common Ground

  • Changing Perspective

  • Demonstrating Hostility

Perceptions of Humor Quality

• Humor perceived as:

  • Relevant

  • Funny

  • Well-timed

  • Silly or Witty

• Quality impacts conflict outcomes significantly.

Differences in Humor Perception

• Individual humor tendencies affect how people respond:

  • Humor appreciation results in positive perceptions of conflict interactions.

Research Questions

• RQ1a: What motives for humor do participants attribute to their conflict partner?

• RQ1b: How are attributed motives related to perceived outcomes?

• RQ2a: What qualities of humor are most commonly reported?

• RQ2b: How are perceptions of humor qualities associated with outcomes?

Methodology

• Participants: 285 (106 men, 179 women), average age 20.

• Data from communication classes, seeking conversations involving humor in conflicts.

Measures Used

• Humor Orientation Scale (HOS) to gauge general humor tendencies.

• Eight measures for speaker’s humor reasons including:

  • Anxiety Relief, Mood Improvement, etc.

• Assessment of humor characteristics:

  • Relevance, Funniness, Timing, Unexpectedness, Wittiness, Silliness.

Factor Analysis Results

• Eight reasons for humor use accounted for significant variance in conflict outcomes.

• Humor characteristics evaluated by relevance, silliness, and overall quality.

Results and Outcomes

• Attributions of humor correlating with outcomes:

• Humor as Mood Improvement inversely relates to Escalation; positively relates to Progress.

• Hostility attribution is positively correlated with Escalation and Loss of Face.

Implications and Future Research

• Highlights importance of humor quality in conflict resolution.

• Suggests further study on internal vs. external attributions affecting responses.

• Recommends exploration of what constitutes 'quality' humor in conflict contexts.

Conclusion

• Study underscores necessity of evaluating humor types in conflicts and contextual factors.

• Highlights the dual-edge nature of humor in interpersonal interactions.